A soldier hurriedly ran into the temporary marshal's mansion in Yanzhou: "Report to Li Zhizhi, Wei Dutong, princess, princess is here." Li Bao and Wei Wang glanced at each other, both confused.

Li Bao shouted: "Let's be clear, what's going on." ”

The soldier said: "I sent from Qi County to select the commander of the Feng Army, and I asked to see the two adults, and the two princesses also came together, please let the two adults go out of the city to meet them." ”

Li Bao and Wei Sheng had already reorganized their men and horses at this time and were ready to rescue Qixian, but they didn't know what the current battle situation was, so they had already sent people to Qixian to investigate, but before the spies came back, Li Xianzhong sent people. Li Bao immediately got up and said, "Quick, everyone follow me out of the city to greet the princess." ”

There were more than 1,000 Song troops who came, all of them were cavalry troops of the flanked front army. Led by Yu Gongliang, accompanied by Bi Zaiyu, Chen Yichao and Wang Shilong. Sure enough, Zhao Yueru and Zhao Qianru were also among them, with more than 20 female soldiers. But everyone was unpretentious, apparently coming overnight.

Li Bao and Wei Sheng went out of the city in person, and when they saw the princess and was about to make a big salute, they were stopped by Zhao Yueru and said, "Two adults, this is not in the palace, so there is no need to be polite." Now the situation is urgent, and the emperors are in danger, so they also ask the two adults to send rescue troops quickly to relieve the siege of Qixian. ”

Li Baodao: "Princess, please rest assured, Lao Chen and Wei Dutong have already made preparations, and they can send troops with them." However, please also ask the princess to go into the city, and everyone will discuss how to rescue Qi County. ”

Yu Gongliang and his entourage entered Yanzhou and were led into the temporary marshal's mansion, and Zhao Yueru immediately had to discuss the plan to rescue Qi County.

Li Baodao: "As soon as we heard the news that the emperor was surrounded by the Jin army, we immediately prepared all the soldiers, horses, grain, grass, and equipment in Yancheng. The princess doesn't have to be in a hurry. You have come from afar, Ammalawton, rest first, we have prepared a banquet, and it will be too late to consult with me after the banquet. ”

Yu Gongliang was also very anxious, and said: "We appreciate the kindness of the lord, and we are very grateful, but the princess thinks that the emperor is safe, and it is really difficult to sleep and eat, so it is better to discuss it during the banquet." ”

Li Bao nodded and said, "It's okay." Immediately he commanded that food and wine should be served, and that the map should be brought and hung in the midst of the feast.

After the banquet was placed, Yu Gongliang, Bi Zaiyu, Wang Shilong, Zhao Yueru and Zhao Qian were seated, Li Bao and Wei Sheng personally accompanied, and only Yang Yan and Xin Qiji were present in the Western Route Army. Although Yang Yan is only in control, Princess Yongning's future concubine will naturally attend. Xin Qiji was a senator of the Eastern Route Army, and he and Wang Shilong were also old acquaintances, both of whom were the old troops of the Gengjing Shandong Righteous Army, and they returned to the Song Dynasty together, so they were also seated together.

During the banquet, Yu Gongliang gave a detailed introduction to the situation in Qi County.

It turned out that on May 12, the Jin army attacked on the fifth route, attacked the camp of the Song army in Qixian County at night, the front camp was broken, and the deputy marshal of the middle route army, Qingyuanjun Jiedu, made Cheng Min die of an arrow, and among the eleven sons of Cheng Min, Cheng Dayi, Cheng Dayi, Cheng Daxing, and Cheng Dahua were killed on the spot, and Cheng Daxin, Cheng Daren, and Cheng Da incarnation were seriously injured. The Jin army re-attacked the middle camp of the Song army, but fortunately, the Song army fought desperately, and Yu Gongliang's side selection front army played well, and finally killed the Jin army. In this battle, the Song army dismantled more than 20,000 troops.

On 13 May, Li Xianzhong retired from Qixian County. The Jin Army's Five Route Army was dispatched together, and Yang Woyan led an army of 50,000 troops to surround the town. Wanyan Chenghui led 50,000 troops to hold Tongxu, cutting off Shao Hongyuan's route to help, Wanyan Changzhi and Wanyan Chen monks led 100,000 troops from Chenliu, Wanyan Fushou led an army of 30,000 to enter Kaocheng, and Sushi Lie Zhining led an army of 70,000 to recapture Juzhou. The Jin army's five-way men and horses totaled more than 300,000 and surrounded the Song army. In addition, Jin General Jian Jianzhong led 20,000 troops to assist Bai Yanjing in containing Shao Hongyuan's army, and Wanyan Sijing led 30,000 troops to Chuqiu to block Yanzhou's rescue route.

Fortunately, Shi Jun held Xiangyi to the death, so that he would not be cut off from retreating by the Jin army. At this time, the Song army had about 100,000 horses, 30,000 people guarded Xiangyi and Fushi Lie Zhining, 30,000 people guarded in the west of Qixian County, and the rest retreated to Qixian County to resist the Jin soldiers.

Shao Hongyuan of the West Road was confronting Bai Yanjing in Xiangcheng, and was shocked to learn that the Middle Route Army was defeated and the emperor was besieged. Hurriedly abandoned Xiangcheng, bypassed Xuzhou, and went to the rescue by way of Yanling. However, Yang Woyan ambushed the army in Baiting, and on May 15, he defeated Shao Hongyuan's army and beheaded more than 10,000 people. Shao Hongyuan had to retreat to Fugou, on May 16, he was caught up by Bai Yanjing and Yang Woyan in the back, and Yang Woyan was attacked in three ways, Shao Hongyuan was killed, nearly 30,000 soldiers, and the deputy general Zhang Zigai was killed.

After Li Xianzhong learned that Shao Hongyuan's rescue failed, he had no choice but to send Yu Gongliang to lead the selection of the front army to insult the cavalry to break through, and Li Baowei of Baiyanzhou came to his rescue. Zhao Yueru volunteered and was willing to break through with the army. Zhao Tuan naturally didn't allow it, but Zhao Yueru asked to compete with Bi Zai before meeting the account to show his martial arts. As a result, Bi Zaiyu could only maintain a tie situation with all his might, which shocked the entire camp of the Song army, and no one thought that this beautiful princess would have a unique skill. Zhao Tuan saw it, so he agreed.

As a result, even Zhao Qianru followed. Yu Gongliang only brought the cavalry, as well as Bi Zaiyu and Chen Yichao, leaving Yang Changpeng and the infantry. Wang Shilong is familiar with the Shandong calendar, so he also came along. Due to the small number of people and the fact that they were all cavalry, they carefully avoided the Jin army along the way, and finally arrived in Yanzhou without danger.

Wei Sheng asked: "Commander Yu, how long can the grain and grass in the army support when you set off?" ”

Yu Gongliang said: "It's about enough for a month." ”

Wei Sheng nodded and said, "Then time is still enough, so there is no need to rush for a while." I think it is necessary to immediately notify the Suzhou Governor's Mansion and send an army to relieve the siege of Qi County. ”

Li Bao also said: "We can also draw some people from Haizhou and the navy. Fortunately, the grain and grass in Qixian County are still enough to support for a period of time, and it is still urgent. ”

At this time, Yang Yan suddenly got up and said: "Li Zhizhi, the last general should not say much, but now the situation is critical, and if the whole army is wiped out without a little carelessness, even the emperor is difficult to considerate, so the last general has the courage to speak out, and I hope that the lord will forgive his sins." ”

Li Bao waved his hand and said, "Commander Yang, you have nothing to say but you don't have to visit." ”

Yang Yan said: "I just heard what Yu said, the Jin army now has a total of more than 300,000 troops in the Qixian area, and our army is not 50,000 troops in Yanzhou, and only 120,000 horses can be transferred from Haizhou and the navy, and the Suzhou Governor's Mansion can only dispatch 30,000 or 40,000 horses at most. The total is only more than 100,000, which is still far from the Jin army. ”

Li Baodao: "Yang Tong, you are not right, Li Zhaofu still has more than 100,000 troops in Qi County, and Shao Dutong on the West Road, although he was defeated, there are still 40,000 or 50,000 people to write, and there are nearly 300,000 together, which is enough to fight against the Jin army." ”

Yang Yan shook his head and said: "Li Zhizhi, this is not all about the number of troops, the important and dangerous places in the Qixian area have all been occupied by the Jin army, and the Jin army has occupied the land advantage. Therefore, even if we take the risk of sending troops, we may not be able to repel the Jin army, on the contrary, we may repeat the mistake of Shao Dutong's fiasco. ”

Li Bao and Wei Sheng are both people who have been on the battlefield for a long time, and even people like Zhao Yueru and Zhao Qianru who don't understand military affairs also think that Yang Yan's words are reasonable. At present, the Jin army has not only formed a local superiority in troops in the Qixian area, but also has taken advantage of the geographical advantage. You must know that a good geographical advantage can often fight against several times the enemy's army. But now the emperor is trapped, even knowing that the situation is unfavorable, he cannot not send troops.

After half a ring, Li Baocai said: "Yang Tongzhi, what you said is indeed reasonable, but now that the emperor is besieged in Qixian County, we as courtiers must send troops to rescue us knowing that it is dangerous." ”

Yang Yan said: "This general naturally knows, but the general has another strategy, but I don't know if it's feasible." ”

Li Bao said: "Oh! If you have any good ideas, you might as well talk about it, and even if there are omissions, you can also refer to them together. ”

Yang Yan said: "Now we have learned that the place where the Jin army stores grain is in Heiyang Mountain, if we send an army to attack Heiyang Mountain, burn the grain and grass of the Jin army, and provide food." If it can be successful, then the siege of Qixian County can naturally be solved. ”

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone present was stunned for a moment, thinking carefully about the feasibility of Yang Yan's needle stroke.

After a while, Wei Sheng said: "Yang is in control, the plan is a good plan, but it is difficult to implement. Mount Heiyang is located in the northwest of Tokyo, more than 800 miles away from Yanzhou. Moreover, it is in the territory of the Jin country, and there are Jin troops garrisoned along the road, and I am afraid that it will be discovered by the Jin people before they reach Heiyang Mountain. Moreover, the place where the grain is stored is naturally heavily guarded, and it may not be easy to succeed in a sneak attack. ”

Yang Yan said: "It is precisely because Heiyang Mountain is in the Jin Kingdom that the garrison may not be tight, and even if there are tens of thousands of troops in millions of stones, grains and grass, it may be difficult to defend it strictly. What's more, most of the people and horses of the Jin country have been concentrated in the area of Qixian County, and the garrisons along the road must be very empty, only a few thousand elite cavalry troops can reach Heiyang Mountain within four or five days. ”

In fact, in the Han and Tang dynasties, this kind of battle with a small number of Jingyue cavalry troops attacking the rear of the enemy was not uncommon. Li Jing, a famous general in the fourth year of Tang Zhenguan, personally led 3,000 elite horsemen to attack the desert, penetrated 3,000 miles, defeated the Turks, captured the Turkic Khan, and shocked the outside. Siyi Jun Changyi Que invited Tang Taizong to be called Tian Khan. However, since the founding of the Great Song Dynasty, there have been few generals who have made good use of the cavalry, and this kind of long-distance attack has never been seen before.

At this time, Li Bao said: "Who can take on this important task if it is not reached?" ”

Yang Yan said generally: "The last general is not talented, I wish to do this." ”

Li Bao knew in his heart that if this plan was adopted, Yang Yan would indeed be the best person to command the long attack. His selection of the front army is a rare all-cavalry establishment in the Great Song Army, and he has a wealth of experience in commanding cavalry. Moreover, he had conducted several field combat training when he was training the selection of the front army. And Yang Yan is also Wan Xiansheng's grandson, if Yang Yan leads the army, Wan Xiansheng will never care. Although personal bravery is not the decisive factor in the battle between the two armies, it is useful to have such a supreme master to help in pathfinding and finding posts. Therefore, I really can't find a more suitable person than Yang Yan.

However, Li Bao also knew that the danger of attacking Heiyang Mountain from a distance was also very great, and going deep into the enemy's territory not only could not guarantee the replenishment, but also fought completely under the encirclement of the enemy army, and there was a danger of annihilation at every turn. Solid ash is nine deaths and one life. Yang Yan dared to take the initiative to ask for an attack from afar, and he was indeed putting life and death out of the way. Even people like Zhao Yueru and Zhao Qianru who don't know much about military affairs know the danger of long-range attacks, and both of them stared at Yang Yan intently, each thinking in their hearts.

Yang Yan continued: "The art of war is a combination of clouds and odd wins. Now that the situation is critical, the general thinks that he can take a two-pronged approach, and it is right to transfer troops to rescue the troops on the one hand; On the other hand, it was a miraculous victory to send troops to attack Heiyang Mountain. Only in this way can the siege of Huqi County be achieved. Please ask Li Zhizhi and Wei Dutong to order. ”

Li Bao said: "In this way, we will discuss it here today, and tomorrow we can gather all the generals to discuss together." The two princesses came from afar, and the ministers prepared the pavilion, entertained the inconsiderate places, and asked the princess to forgive her sins. ”